Men Do Cry
(Son Loss Memorial Poems)
I heard quite often
“men don’t cry” ..
Though no one ever
told me why.
So when I fell
and skinned a knee ..
No one came by
to comfort me.
And when some bully
boy at school ..
Would pull a prank
so mean and cruel.
I’d quickly learn
to turn and quip ..
“It doesn’t hurt,”
and bite my lip.
So as I grew
to reason years ..
I learned to stifle
any tears.
Though “Be a big boy”
it began ..
Quite soon I learned
to “Be a man.”
And I could play
that stoic role ..
While storm and tempest
wracked my soul.
No pain or setback
could there be ..
Could wrest one single
tear from me.
Then one long night
I stood nearby ..
And helplessly
watched my son die.
And quickly found
to my surprise ..
That all that tearless
talk was lies.
And still I cry
and have no shame ..
I cannot play
that “big boy” game.
And openly
without remorse ..
I let my sorrow
takes its course.
So those of you
who can’t abide ..
a man you’ve seen
who’s often cried.
Reach out to him
with all your heart ..
As one whose life’s
been torn apart.
For men DO cry
when they can see ..
their loss
of immortality.
And tears will come
in endless streams ..
When mindless fate
destroys their dreams.
– Ken Falk
